MANHATTAN — In an effort to combat an apparent rise in prescription pill abuse, the Manhattan District Attorney and other local authorities are asking residents to turn in unused and expired drugs on Saturday.
With 15 collection sites scattered around Manhattan, residents can drop off drugs they should not have or no longer need on between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Program, which began last year.
"While there has been a decline in the rate of drug deaths involving heroin, cocaine, and methadone over the past few years, rates of death involving prescription drugs have increased," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement.
“Some of the drugs in our medicine cabinets can be as addictive, harmful, and even as lethal as those sold illegally in the streets," he added.
The drive was organized by Vance's office, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 16 percent of New Yorkers reported using illegal drugs or medications in the past year. The agency said that 624 New Yorkers died of drug overdoses in 2009.
Authorities said they collected 188 tons of prescription drugs across the country during last year's drive.
Saturday 10/29 collection spots include:
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Mott St. and Prince St.
New York City Fire Dept., 215 West 58th St
New York City Fire Dept., 1367 5th Ave.
New York City Fire Dept., 25 Pitt St.
St. Paul The Apostle Church, Columbus Ave. and West 60th St.
New York City Police Dept.,120 East 119th St.
New York City Fire Dept., 42 Great Jones St.
Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, 210 East 64th St.
New York City Police Dept., 250 West 135th St.
James Place, 99 Tenth Ave.
Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 East 77th St.
EMS Station 16, 15 West 136th St.
Daytop Village, 54 West 40th St.
New York City Police Dept., 120 West 82nd St.
New York City Police Dept., 4295 Broadway
